Steve Jacques switches commitment

Before the start of the 2008 season, South Broward standout offensive lineman Steven Jacques made a commitment to attend Auburn. That all changed over the last month.

Since the announcement that Tommy Tuberville had stepped down as head coach of the War Eagles, the 6-4, 285-pounder opened his recruitment back up, and on Saturday, he made the decision to switch in schools.

“I am going to the University of South Florida,” Jacques said. “Coach (Jim) Leavitt and the program there in Tampa felt right. Like a family and that’s what really interested me the most.”

Jacques, a first team All-Broward selection in the Miami Herald, had originally looked at USF with West Virginia and Auburn, so while many were surprised by the switch from the Southeastern Conference school to the Big East, it was a matter of being closer to home and feeling comfortable.

Picked to play in this week’s Miami-Dade/Broward game, Jacques instead opted not to play in the game and will compete in the BCAA Wrestling championships this Friday and Saturday at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, where he and Cypress Bay junior Joe McNamara head in as the favorites in the heavyweight division.

“I have said all along, when Steve devotes fulltime to the offensive line and develops more technique, he will be very special,” said South Broward coach Allen Held. “While many have criticized his play - for one reason or another - there is no doubt in my mind that he is as good as any I have watched.”